Boksugen

Via Bibliobibuli hittar jag nyheten att Chuah Guat Engs andra roman, Days of Change, kommer ut i handeln om ungefär två månader. Jag var ju väldigt förtjust i hennes förra roman, Echoes of Silence, så den här boken kommer jag helt säker att köpa. Synd bara att den inte finns i Kindle-format, nu när jag har blivit så modern...

Boken handlar om Hafiz, vars namn betyder "bevararen" eller "han som minns". Men Hafiz lider av minnesförslust efter att ha ramlat ner i en ravin i Ulu Banir. För att återfå minnet använder han sig av Förvandlingarnas bok, Yijing. I takt med att minnena återvänder fyller han sina dagböcker med anteckningar om sitt tidigare liv och vad som egentligen hände innan han föll ner i ravinen. Och läsaren får följa hur det malajsiska samhället har förändrats sedan självständigheten 1957.

Så här börjar boken (jag har tjuvkikat på Amazon.com):

21st August 1997

Tonight I was back in the ravine, tumbling down the river, too cold to feel wet, too frightened to feel pain, fighting for breath, knowing I had to call on the mercy of God, aloud, without faltering in word and in faith. But knowing that to open my mouth was a certain death. I heard the beginning of a scream, felt it collecting at the base of my throat. Then mercifully the light came on and Rubiah was shaking me awake, asking if I was all right, asking over and over: What's happening to you? What's happening to you? The one question I can't answer, the one question that even in broad daylight has the power to hurl me back into a ravine of my own private hell, into the black, merciless waters of self-pity.

I couldn't sleep after that. I came here to the study, to spend the rest of the night. Cruel. That was cruel. Rubiah was concerned, frightened. I could, should have said something, but all I wanted was to be alone - . Why can't I be honest even in my most secret thoughts? Let me say it. Honestly. Just this once. All I wanted was to get away from her.

But I don't know why.